1. Home
  2. Adult social care
  3. I help someone with their everyday life

Carers' support

A carer is an adult or child who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support.

The support they give is considered unpaid, even if they receive Carer's Allowance.
 

If you are a carer, we can help by:

  • providing information, advice and guidance
  • carrying out a free carer's assessment and agreeing a support plan if you have eligible needs

How to get support

We work in partnership and fund Dorset Carer Service from Help & Care and the online self-help platform Bridgit Care. They can provide the best possible support for our carers. You can contact them direct.
 

Help & Care

Help & Care Dorset Carer Service is our lead care organisation and supports unpaid carers from the age of 5 and upwards across Dorset, with information, guidance and wellbeing support. You can call them between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, on 0303 303 0153.

What you can expect:
  • a listening ear
  • clear guidance
  • help to access the right support
You can register as a carer and access:
  • the Dementia Co-ordinator Service
  • wellbeing hubs
  • social prescribing
  • health and wellbeing coaching
  • HOPE training
They work in association with MYTIME Young Carers and The HOPE Programme. No matter your age or circumstances, you’ll feel heard, supported, and valued in your caring role.

Bridgit Care

An online self-service platform, Bridgit is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Carers can: 
  • telephone Bridgit, the AI Carer Coach, to ask questions - telephone: 01305 237 395
  • chat with Bridgit or read the web pages
  • create a self-help plan
  • submit a carer pre-assessment to Help & Care, or start a carer assessment
  • apply for a Dorset Carer Friendly ID Card
  • find out about local events
  • read about support available in Dorset

Other support

Forward carers logo

Dorset Carer Friendly ID Card

Forward Carers provide the Dorset Carer Friendly ID Card. This is available to Dorset Council residents who register as an unpaid Carer with Help & Care Dorset Carers Service.

It serves as:
  • a photo ID card to verify your status as a carer
  • a way to display In Case of Emergency (ICE) contact details
  • access to discounts or special offers at participating businesses 

SWAN - South West Advocacy Network


SWAN is a charity providing independent advocacy to ensure everyone, especially the most vulnerable, has equal rights. They offer support to carers aged 16+ through various assessments and planning, ensuring their needs and rights are met and respected.

We work with them closely and you can contact them directly if you need support.

Young carers

MYTIME Young Carers

MYTIME Young Carers stand up for and support young carers aged between 5 and 25 across the UK, to ensure they receive the opportunities, friendship, and help they deserve. They work in association with Help & Care.

Dorset Young Carers service

Many young people do not realise they are carers. Looking after someone with physical or mental health needs can be demanding and make it harder to care for yourself.

Support and advice are available through Dorset Young Carers.

A carer is anyone who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.

If you are a carer, we can help you. As a local authority we can:

  • provide information, advice and guidance. This may include pointing you in the direction of specialist organisations
  • carry out a free carer's assessment. This includes seeing whether you have eligible needs. If you do, we will agree a support plan with you

Our commitment

We work in partnership with local organisations to provide the best possible support for carers. Dorset Council funds Help & Care Dorset Carers Service and the online self-help platform Bridgit Care, which are the lead partners for carers’ services.

How to access support

If you identify as a carer, you can access support through Help & Care Dorset Carers Service. Help & Care works alongside MYTIME Young Carers to support carers of all ages, starting from 5 years old.


What you can expect:

  • a listening ear
  • clear guidance
  • help to access the right support
No matter your age or circumstances, you’ll feel heard, supported, and valued in your caring role.

Bridgit – online support 24/7

Bridgit is an online self-service platform available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Carers can: 
  • telephone Bridgit, the AI Carer Coach to ask questions 01305 237 395
  • chat with Bridgit or read the web pages
  • create a self-help plan
  • request a carer pre-assessment with Help & Care, or start a carer assessment
  • apply for a Dorset Carer Friendly ID Card
  • find out about local events
  • read about support available in Dorset

Support for young carers - MYTIME Young Carers

MYTIME Young Carers is a Dorset-based charity dedicated to young carers. They offer:
  • positive activities and breaks during school holidays with other young carers
  • weekly virtual youth groups
  • employability programme to support education and work opportunities
If a young carer has a significant caring role, they may be referred to the Dorset Council Young Carers Team for additional support. The adult they care for will also be encouraged to seek advice and support from Dorset Council.

I need to talk to someone

If you need to talk, Help & Care are there to help. They have a freephone line you can call to find out about their services. You can also register with them for ongoing help.